It’s easy to become overwhelmed with so much going on. If you are ending 2016 feeling a little unbalanced and out of sorts, I want to encourage you today. You can get your homeschool back on track. You can take back your days and your week and your sanity with a few small changes.
Are you ready to start 2017 fresh? Here are some tips to organize your homeschool in 2017!
Eliminate Excess
The first thing I want you to do is take a close look at what is working, and what is not working in your homeschool. Many homeschoolers start the year with too much on their plates. If you have designed your own curriculum by piecemealing subjects together it’s likely that you have some overlap in what the kids are studying. Look at your lesson plans and see if there is *anything* you can eliminate. Are you discussing grammar in both your writing and reading curriculum? Well, cross out the excess lessons.
Your curriculum is not in charge of your homeschool. You are. It’s okay to not follow it exactly, or choose to skip lessons here or there.
Make a Plan
Writing down your goals will help you accomplish your goals. Some people like to sit down on Sundays and plan out their week, and others like to write things down each day. Find a method that works for you and stick with it.
I created a planner for myself this year that included all the the things a mom really needs- to-do lists, shopping lists, chore routines, meal planning, scheduling, homeschooling and more. I’ve found that I needed something flexible that would allow me to change the layout of my planner as my needs change, so I created many different versions of it.
Get a copy for yourself – the key to productivity and mental peace really is writing down the things you need to do so you can stop worrying about them and start checking them off!
Set Limits
I learned a couple of years ago that setting a timer can save my day. When I sit the kids down to do a lesson, we set a timer for 20 minutes or so. The kids know that while the timer is ticking, it’s time to focus, and if they do that, when the timer beeps, it will be time for a break. If they have been working hard, and the timer beeps before we finish the lesson, that’s okay. I find a place to stop, and we set it aside for tomorrow.
The goal for me is to reward focus and productivity, and prevent time from running away from me. After all, there is SO much I need to cram into our days- I can’t let a runaway math lesson crush my child’s spirit and prevent me from doing important things like feeding the kids dinner.
Set Aside Time for You
The other trick to being productive and less overwhelmed is taking time for yourself. Yes, You. I tend to get tired and cranky in the afternoons. I am an introvert, and I need time to myself to recharge. Right around 2 each day, I send the kids up to their rooms to read, or outside to play and I put on my headphones and relax. Sometimes I read a book, or watch a TV show, or just play around on Pinterest. Every once in awhile I use a meditation app and take a power nap.
It also helps to make sure you are going to bed and getting up around the same time each day. I use an app on my phone to remind me that it’s getting close to time to go to bed (because Mama needs her 8 hours!) and an alarm that gets me up at the same time each morning. A well rested mom is a relaxed mom- so if you are not getting your sleep each night, find a way to make that happen STAT. Everything else will be waiting for you in the morning.
Get the Ultimate Mom Planner on Sale Now- it’s flexible, undated and has room for all of the things a busy Mom can’t forget.
Great article! “Success” may mean a closer relationship between parents and children, and perhaps a talent discovered in carpentry, nursing, or clothing design. These family lessons are priceless and can only be taught at home, not in a public or private school setting.
Great article! “Success” may mean a closer relationship between parents and children, and perhaps a talent discovered in carpentry, nursing, or clothing design